Container for cut flowers



April 17, 1951 D. s. SHINODA 2,549,023 4 CONTAINER FOR CUT FLOWERS Filed March 14, 1949 l l I Z l ,I 11 22 2 I 0 I I if 1 71 .3.

26 24 Q I I INVENTOR. l I DAN/EL STEPHEN SH/IVODA 15 BY A ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1951 CONTAINER FOR CUT FLOWERS Daniel Stephen Shinoda, Hayward, Calif., as-

signor to San Lorenzo Nursery Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 14, 1949, Serial No. 81.330

2 Claims.

"sition within the box so that the petals of the flower are not damaged bytouching the walls of the box, and the flower cannot shift position within the box.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a box which will display a flower advantageously fromthe standpoint of sales appeal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a box in which a flower may be rapidly and positively inserted to be securely held in position and without danger of damaging the flower either while inserting or removing it from the box.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a means associated with a box for holding a flower therewithin which is integral with the box itself and does not require the use of a separate tray or false bottom as is commonly employed in conventional cut flower boxes.

Further objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box partially broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank for a box.

It is common practice to sell gardenias and other fresh cut flowers which are relatively fragile and expensive in individual boxes so that the flowers may be displayed advantageously, and for the further reason that by using such an individual box the possibility of damage to the bloom is reduced. At the present time a tray or false bottom is inserted in the box, and a star-shaped hole punched in the false bottom through which the stem of the flower may be laced. This type of box presents the possibility of damage to the stem or petals during insertion and removal of the stem from the hole and requires time of the florist or nurseryman in performing the necessary manual operations of lacing the stem through the hole. The box is also more costly than that contemplated in the present invention because of the extra material required for the tray.

The present invention employs a tab formed integral with the bottom of the box and posi- 2. tioned extending interiorly, the tab havinga slit to receive the stem and/or calyx of the blossom to support the bloom. l

Although the invention is adapted for use in any type of box suitable for out flowers, it is particularly useful in connection with folding boxes since the slits. and score lines which form the interiorly projecting tab may be formed with the same die which blanks out the box itself; however, a separate die may be used to convert a standard box to the principles of the present invention. The invention is adaptable for use in connection with boxes which are machine assembled, for example, such as those described in U. S. Patent No. 2,366,419.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, a conventional flower box consists of a bottom ll, upstanding sides l2 and ends l3 made of cardboard or other suitable material and dimensioned to receive and enclose a flower l4 having a calyx I'G and stem ll. In the bottom of the box a U- shaped out line 20 is formed, the die cutting through the thickness of the material of which the box is formed, and a score or fold line 2| is formed joining the ends of the arms of the U- shaped cut, thus forming a tab 22 which may be bent along line 2| so as to project interiorly of the box and disposed at an angle with respect to the bottom. Projecting inwardly from the edge of the tab 22 which is the base of the U is a pair of parallel cut lines 23 spaced apart a distance about equal to that of flower stem ll. The lines 23 extend inwardly for about inch and then diverge outwardly as is shown by reference numerals 24. A score or fold line 26 parallel to line 2! and spaced inwardly of the tab joins the extremities of lines 24. The space between the lines 24 receive the calyx l6 of the flower. The portion 21 of the tab 22 defined by the lines 26. 24, 23 and 2!) may be discarded or, if desired, form a supporting platform for the flower, as is shown particularly in Fig. 2, to aid in supporting the bloom above the bottom of the box so that the petals do not come in contact with any part of the box and hence are not damaged.

Thus, after the box is formed. the florist pushes the tab 22 into the box, bending the tab back along score line 2|. The stem of the flower is then inserted in the slot between parallel cut lines 23 in a single vertical motion, the calyx of the flower resting in the space between the flaring lines 24, the flower being supported by the portion 21' so that the petals do not come in contact with the bottom ll, sides [2 or ends l3.

It will, of course, be understood that, although ployed, it is desirable, normally, that it be brought I around the bottom of the box so as to close on the hole left by the bending upward oft-he tab 22;

Although I have described my invention in some detail by way of illustration-and example;

for purposes of clarity of understanding it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made therein without departing.

from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cut flower box in which one wan of the box is provided with ates, 'said tab being arranged to be be'nt with respect to said Wall to extend interiorly of thesex, s'aidtabhaving a narrow slot extending inwardly from one edge thereof and arranged to'r'eeeive the stern of a flower slaid tab being associated with the bottom wall of the box and asupport member provided on said tab' and arranged to extend therefrom substantially parallel to the bottom of said box and in the plane of said slot when said tab is extended interiorly of said box to support the underside of a flower.

2. A cut flower box in which the bottom forming wall of the box is cut to form a tab, said tab being arranged to be bent with respect to said wall to extend interiorly of the boxrsaid tab havinga slot extending inwardly from one edge of said tab and open at said edge, said slot being narrow adjacent said edge and arranged to re ceive the stern of a flower and having straight side protrusions dividing to a greater width remote froin said edge to form a triangular cut-out arranged to receive the calyx of a flower, and a supportplatiorm carried by said tab and arranged to extend therefrom at an angle oblique to said tab and in the plane of said slot when said tab is extended interiorly of said box to supportthe underside of a flower. I

DANIEL STEPHEN sHiNonA.

REFERENCES CITED "The llowing references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,474,543 McLellanhm u n June'28;1949 

